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Lavalle Department, Corrientes Province, Argentina

Santa Lucía

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Santa Lucía

image by Ivan Sache, 6 May 2017

The municipality of Santa Lucía (aka Santa Lucía de los Astos; 14,589 inhabitants in 2010), located 200 km south of Corrientes, is the capital of the Lavalle Department.

Santa Lucía was established in 1615 by Hernando Arias de Saavedra, aka Hernandarias, on the confluence of river Mepepé, today known as river Santa Lucía, with river Paraná. The original settlement, known as Tabacué - Guarani for "Old Village" -, was located near Rincón de Soto and disappeared due to a ravine landslide. The village was renamed after a statue of St. Lucy, offered by the Astos family, a matter of veneration for the natives evangelized by Franciscan fathers. Raided several times by natives coming from the other side of the Paraná, the Franciscan mission was transferred in 1716 one league away from the Paraná, on the right bank of river Santa Lucía
http://www.santalucia.gob.ar - Municipal website

The flag of Santa Lucía is prescribed by Ordinance No. 13, adopted on 27 November 2015 by the Municipal Council. The Ordinance recognizes Tamara Serial as the original author of the flag.

Brown represents Mother Earth, which receives fertilizing rain to produce harvests and feed mankind. Rivers and lakes are part of the earth's generosity and share its femininity and fertility. To summarize, this is the productive territory, also a symbol of shelter and absolute protection.

Blue represents water, here warm river Santa Lucía and its confluence with the impetuous Paraná, which bathes the beautiful coast of our town, forming its main touristic attraction and a place for different
sporting and recreating activities.
Water can be considered as an element creating life. Its continuous whirls represent perpetual movement, spreading in length and width worldwide, creating life in every corner of the planet.

Celestial blue symbolizes the infinite sky. The relation between earth and sky is vital for the welfare of mankind. The combination of the sun, rain, winds and earth supplies life. Transcendental and celestial life merge popular beliefs and Biblical relations, every time the field workers invoke some deities to obtain good harvest.

Green is a relaxing and hopeful colour, which fosters feelings of serenity and harmony. Green is intimately connected with the natural environment, symbolizing life, fertility, and being the colour of everything that can develop and thrive. Green is also the symbol of life in an ample feeling of being , referring not only to the human being but also to everything growing and thriving, here on our soil.

White is a symbol of purity and perfection and the characteristic colour of the sand that covers the shores of river Santa Lucía.

Data on the coat of arms are provided after its designer's description.
The oval shape is compliant with the Argentine tradition, inherited from the Latin tradition.
The shield is tierced per fess; the upper third (the most important in the shield) is charged with a sun symbolizing the emerging homeland.
The two lower thirds are charged with symbols connected with the place's origin and name.
In the center of the shield, the plate argent with the two eyes is a symbol of St. Lucy [Lucy of Syracuse, martyred in 304 during the Diocletian persecution, had her eyes gouged out - or removed them herself, according to other traditions], as well as the martyr's palm.
Much lower and completing an imaginary circle with the sun, a line of five stars represents the five resettlement episodes of the place, recalling its sacrifice.
Outside the oval are placed other allegoric elements (laurel wreaths tied by a celestial blue and white scroll) representing our country.
Blue dominates in the lower part, as a symbol of justice and loyalty.
The white stars and plate express purity, integrity, firmness, vigilance, and triumph.
http://www.iusnoticias.com.ar/vernota.asp?id_noticia=4768 - IUS Noticias

The flag was inaugurated on 28 November 2015 during the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the town.

http://www.ellitoral.com.ar/390021/Santa-Lucia-conmemoro-sus-400-anos-con-historia-devocion-bandera-propia-y-musica - El Litoral, 29 November 2015

The flag is said to be a modification of the design originally designed in 2010 by Tamara Serial, winner of a public contest. In December 2010, the Municipal Council adopted Resolution No. 2,437, which approved the flag elected among 38 submissions.
http://www.comunidadsantalucia.com.ar/2010/12/el-concejo-aprobo-el-diseno-de-la.html

image by Ivan Sache, 6 May 2017

In December 2012, the Municipal Council adopted the flag designed "some time earlier" by Tamara Serial, but a quite different design.
http://www.ellitoral.com.ar/231647/Concejales-avalaron-el-diseno-elegido-para-la--bandera-de-Santa-Lucia - El Litoral, 16 December 2012

The design features the silhouette of the St. Lucy parish church, erected in the 18th century in colonial style.

Photo: http://www.comunidadsantalucia.com.ar/2010/12/conferencia-para-anunciar-refacciones.html

Ivan Sache, 6 May 2017